When it rains, it pours and that seems to be the case for Everton this season, who are sat one place above the relegation spots in the Premier League after a dismal campaign so far. Frank Lampard’s side suffered their fifteenth loss of the season on Monday when Antonio Conte’s Tottenham brushed them aside.

And according to a report by MailOnline, Everton’s woes look to continue as they could potentially have points deducted as punishment for breaching Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.

Between the years 2017 and 2020, Everton lost over £260m and the situation has only worsened with the club being forced to suspend ties with Alisher Usmanov-backed companies. The Russian Oligarch, who is Everton’s major sponsor, was the subject of sanctions by the European Union following Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine.

The club are yet to submit their financial accounts for 2020-21 season and it is estimated that the losses would be in excess of £100m. The rule states that Premier League clubs are allowed to lose less than £105m over three years and if found guilty, can be fined or docked points as punishment. But following the outbreak of the pandemic, the rule was revised to make it four years instead of three and the club are now seeking clarification over how much of the losses can be offset because of the impact of coronavirus. 

Everton’s spending power has diminished significantly as a result as Demarai Gray for £1.7m the Blues’ most expensive signing of the summer. 

If found guilty, Everton would be the first side in the Premier League to break the profit and sustainability rules.